Anchoring structure for gymnasium floors



Jan. 17,1967- E. OMHOLT 3,298,653

ANCHOR ING STRUCTURE FOR GYMNASIUM FLOORS Filed June 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l F/GI/ 20 m INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY Jan. 17, 1967 R. E. OMHOLT ANCHORING STRUCTURE FOR GYMNASIUM FLOORS Filed June 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet E H mo 5 M R BY v4 rron/wr United States Patent 3,298,653 ANCHORING STRUCTURE FOR GYMNASIUM FLOORS Ray E. Omholt, B'erwyn, Pa., assignor to Poweriock Floors, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 22, 1965, Ser. No. 466,022 8 Claims. (Cl. 248-361) This invention relates to anchoring structure for gymnasium floors and more articularly to plate anchors of the types required for tension anchoring of gymnasium apparatus guy wires and the like or Compression anchoring of gymnasium apparatus supports and the like.

With the types of flooring previously used in gymnasium no serious difiiculties were encountered in anchoring for tension or for compression because of availability of substructure for the mounting.

Certain types of flooring now in use and coming into use have a subfioor of prestressed reinforced concrete of a thickness of the order of two inches. The currently available anchoring structures are not properly accommodated in such a subfioor.

It is the principal object'of the present invention to provide anchoring structure for flooring having a concrete subfioor in which an adequate movement arm is incorporated, with improved safety and neat appearance.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide anchoring structure for flooring having a concrete subfloor which includes a mounting ring secured in place, and a circular floor plate adjustably mounted thereabove, the type of floor plate being selected dependent upon whether it is to act in tension or compression.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide anchoring structure for flooring having a concrete subfioor which includes a mounting ring, mounted in an improved manner, and so that it does not penetrate the membrane.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide anchoring structure for flooring having a concrete subfloor which has a floor plate capable of orientation to the desired directions for different uses.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide anchoring structure for flooring having a concrete subfloor which is easy to install, greatly reduces the cost of anchoring installations on such floor, and which has greatly increased holding power.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which;

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of anchoring structure in accordance with the invention, for tension anchoring parts being broken away to show the details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 2 showing a tension cable and hook in operating relation therto;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of a nail gripping and holding device which is preferably employed in connection with the anchoring structure;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of anchoring structure in accordance with the invention, primarily for compression anchoring;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 77 of FIG. 6; and

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FIGQS is a verticalsectional view taken approximately on the line 8 -8 of FIG. i

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, a flooring vsystem is shown merely by way of iliustration similar to that disclosed in my application for Flooring Systems,'filed January 27, 1965, Serial No. 428,471,1 1ow Patent No. 3,271,9l6. p

The flooring system, shown includes a subfioor 10, of concrete, with a membrane 11 of a vinyl film thereover,

on which channels 12 are arranged in spaced parallel relation, with metallic clips 13 engaged with the channels 12 and in side edge grooves 15 in floor boards 16 to hold the same in locked position. Interposed beneath the channels 12 a cushioning runner 17 of shock absorbing butyl rubber or the like can be provided and beneath the lower faces 14 of the floor boards 16 panel inserts 18 can be provided of any preferred material having the desired characteristics of resiliency and of recovery under load and in engagement with the membrane 11 and with the underfaces 14 of the floor boards 16. The floor boards 16 have upper faces 19 disposed in a common plane.

The flooring referred to is merely by way of illustration as the anchoring devices can be advantageously applied and utilized with other flooring systems.

In accordance with the invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, at predetermined and selected locations on the subfioor 10, a metal anchoring ring 20 is provided integral with or secured to a rectangular mounting plate 21. The ring 20 at a plurality of equally anguarly spaced locations, eight being preferred, has extending downwardly from its upper face 23, internally threaded holes 24;

The plate 21 is preferably of lesser thickness than the ring 20 so as to be accommodated in spaces between the lower faces 14 of the floor boards 16 and the membrane 11.

The ring 20 is held down in any desired manner and for this purpose a plurality of spaced openings 25 are provided with enlarged upper portions 26 for the reception of anchors 27 which extend downwardly through the membrane 11 and into the cement subfioor 12 in engagement therewith.

The anchors 27 preferably include nails 28 with heads 29 and have their shanks engaged in fastening devices 30.

The fastening devices 30 have side sections 31 joined by a bridge section 32. The side sections 31 have exterior corrugations 31a which engage in the openings 33 in the concrete when the anchors 27 are driven thereinto, and have outturned upper rim portions 34 with which the heads 30 engage. The rim portions 34 and portions of the heads 29 can be disposed in the enlarged upper portions 26.

A floor plate 35 of the same diameter as the ring 20 of conventional type and which includes a plate portion 36 with an upper face 37 and a central opening 38 with a closure 39 pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 40 is preferably employed. The closure 39 is preferably self closing but capable of movement to permit the insertion of a hook 42 on the end of a cable 43 which serves as a tension brace for gymnasium equipment or the like.

The upper face 37 is flush with the upper faces 19 of the floor boards 16 and for this purpose flat head machine screws 44 with their heads 45 engaged in countersunk holes 46 in the floor plate 35 extend downwardly and into engagement in the threaded holes 24.

The floor plate 35 can be oriented to the desired position and the plurality of holes 24 permits of a wide range of adjustment. The floor plate 35 has its upper face 37 disposed in the same plane as the upper faces 19 of the floor boards 16. The height adjustment of the upper face 37 is accomplished by interposing washers 47 which serve as shims. If the floor boards 16 are sanded so as to decrease their thickness, removal of one or more washers 47 will permit the adjustment of the position of the plate 35 so that its face 37 is flush with the faces 19 of the boards 16.

The boards 16 are cut so that they terminate in closely spaced relation to the peripheral edge 41 of the floor plate 35.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings, the anchoring ring 20a there shown has threaded holes 24 extending downwardly from its upper face 23.

The ring 20a is held down by anchors 27 which extend downwardly in openings 25a and into openings 33 in the cement subfioor 10. The nails 28 have their heads 29 engaged with rim portions 34 of fastening devices 30.

The floor plate 35a has a downwardly extending boss 48 with a central opening 49 which may be threaded if desired for the reception of a post 50 which can be in compression, or in tension.

The floor plate 35a is positioned vertically in the same manner as the floor plate 35.

It will thus be seen that simple but effective structure is provided for carrying out the objects of the invention.

I claim:

1. Anchoring structure in combination with a flooring system having a concrete subfioor and superposed floor boards comprising an anchoring ring on said subfloor, members for securing said ring in position comprising a plurality of anchoring devices extending downwardly into the concrete subfioor, a floor plate in superposed relation to said ring, members for determining the elevation of said floor plate with respect to said anchoring ring, and bolts engaging said floor plate and extending downwardly into engagement with said anchoring ring.

2. Anchoring structure as defined in claim 1 in which said anchoring devices extend downwardly through said anchoring ring and have enlarged head portions.

3. Anchoring structure as defined in claim 1 in which said members for securing said ring in position include a plate extending outwardly from said ring with which said anchoring devices are in engagement.

4. Anchoring structure as defined in claim 3 in which said floor boards extend to said floor plate in overlapping relation to said last plate.

5. Anchoring structure as defined in claim 1 in which said floor plate has an opening with a closure therefor carried by said floor plate.

6. Anchoring structure as defined in claim 1 in which said floor plate has a central downwardly extending boss with a central opening.

7. Anchoring structure as defined in claim 1 in which said members for determining the elevation of said floor plate are carried on said bolts.

8. Anchoring structure in combination with a flooring system having a concrete subfloor and superposed floor boards comprising an anchoring ring on said subfioor, a mounting plate extending outwardly from said ring, said anchoring ring having a plurality of threaded holes spaced therearound and extending downwardly therein, a floor plate in superposed relation to said ring and having an upper face for disposition in the same plane as that of the upper faces of the floor boards, said plate having a plurality of vertical openings therethrough, a plurality of anchoring devices extending downwardly through said openings in engagement with the subfioor, and a plurality of bolts engaging said floor plate and extending downwardly in threaded engagement in said threaded holes, said bolts having spacers thereon interposed between said ring and said floor plate determining the elevation of said floor plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1963 Delf ct al 52704 X CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

R. P. SEITTER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. ANCHORING STRUCTURE IN COMBINATION WITH A FLOORING SYSTEM HAVING A CONCRETE SUBFLOOR AND SUPERPOSED FLOOR BOARDS COMPRISING AN ANCHORING RING ON SAID SUBFLOOR, MEMBERS FOR SECURING SAID RING IN POSITION COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ANCHORING DEVICES EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY INTO THE CONCRETE SUBFLOOR, A FLOOR PLATE IN SUPERPOSED RELATION TO SAID RING, MEMBERS FOR DETERMINING THE ELEVATION OF SAID FLOOR PLATE WITH RESPECT TO SAID ANCHORING RING, AND BOLTS ENGAGING SAID FLOOR PLATE AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ANCHORING RING. 